Failure to prove ownership, CCP to seal shops in municipal market

PANJIM, JULY 29
The market committee of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has recommended sealing all those shops from new city municipal market which have failed to prove their ownership or are left without use, by next week.
“The committee has decided that all those shops which are closed down or are not functioning and at the same time have failed to approach us proving their ownership over the shops, will be sealed,” member of the market committee, said.
The corporator said that the market inspectors will inspect the complex yet again and accordingly the shops will be sealed.
The committee, headed by Mayor Carolina Po, which met on Thursday to decide the faith of the market tenants, who failed to approach CCP with documentation proving their ownership over the shops even after the set deadline of July 15.
The corporation had come out with a notice asking market tenants to pay off their rents as per new market rates of Rs 195 per sq meter as against Rs 30 by July 15. Apart from this, the tenants were also asked to submit all the documents to prove their allotment and occupation in the market complex.
For this an agreement was suppose to be signed between CCP and market tenants. However, only 90 of 450-odd tenants approach CCP.
“Today we decided that corporation will sign a market lease agreement with only those tenants whose names are added in Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) list. There are hardly 25-30 people who are added in this list,” the corporator said.
“Others have either sublet their shops or are close down. Hence the matte over agreement with these people will be taken in the special council meeting,” corporator added.
He said that council members have to decide whether to regularize it or give it on lease.
During the meeting, it was clear that around 52 big shop owners from the market have deposited cheque with CCP as per 2003 agreement (Rs 30 per sq meter). “Along with the cheques a legal notice stating that they should be charge as per the 2003 agreement was also attached,” he stated.
However, the market committee has decided to seek legal opinion over the matter.
As per CCP report 458 shops and stalls and 446 vegetable and flower vendors have occupied space in the market. And there are 100-odd shops which are either close down or are not functioning.